Magnetic resonance imaging device

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for use in magnetic resonance imaging of a woman's breasts. The device has breast-supporting cups that comprise an enhanced fat saturation material to facilitate fat suppression during imaging. Significantly, the wearer can put the device on and position it with little or no assistance and without loss of dignity due to manipulation by a technician.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60 / 649,673, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to a device and system for improving fat saturation during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). More particularly, the invention relates to a breast positioning that utilizes an MR imaging device designed specifically for improving imaging of a patient's breasts. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast has emerged as an important new diagnostic tool for the detection of tumors. Pre-surgical MRI can help to reduce the number of biopsies that need to be taken by distinguishing benign from malignant tumors. Likewise, MRI techniques provide opportunities for staging malignant tumors that can play an important role in breast preserving surgery. More recently, MRI has been empl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In one aspect, the invention relates to a device for magnetic resonance imaging of a patient's breasts, said device comprising a torso-encircling bodice portion adapted to be fastened around the torso of the patient and first and second breast-supporting panels or cups, the panels or cups comprising a fat saturation enhancing material, for example a non-protonated, material, wherein the cups are releasably attached to the torso-encircling bodice portion. The shape of the breast-supporting cups corresponds generally to the contour of the wearer's breasts, wherein the cup comprises a nonaqueous solid or liquid fat saturation enhancing material.

[0010] In another aspect, the invention relates to a device for magnetic resonance imaging of the breasts further comprising a pair of roughly circular cups for covering the breasts, each defining a curved lower edge removably attached to the upper edge of the torso-encircling bodice portion, with first fasteners fixedly secured to upper edge of the cups and second fasteners on the upper edge of the bodice portion for cooperating with the fasteners to fixedly attach the cups to the torso-encircling bodice portion, wherein the cups are fixedly attached and remain immovable with respect to the bodice portion at the position defined by the attachment despite movement by the wearer.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the sensitivity MR imaging provides over more traditional imaging modalities, such as mammography or ultrasound, there are several technological hurdles.

While providing exceptional sensitivity, it displays variable specificity that represents a major limitation.

Given this varying specificity, when tumors are detected by MR imaging that cannot be identified with more traditional imaging modalities, patient management decisions are difficult.

The need to disrobe and have one's breasts manipulated, positioned and compressed by a stranger can be an uncomfortable and intimidating experience for a female patient.

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